Southern Nevada Regional
Professional Development
Program
RPDP.net
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Informational Text
Reading Graphic Aids
and
Computer Networks
Created by Jill M. Leone
Reading Specialist
Copyright © 2006
We will discuss –
• how computers have changed the ways
we look at and gather information.
• different types of graphic aids.
• strategies for reading a website.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Why do we look at information
differently?
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RPDP Secondary Literacy
RPDP Secondary Literacy
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Today’s Special
Pasta Primavera
Chicken Angelo
Baked Eggplant
Homemade Pizza
Chicken Caesar Salad
Stuffed Mushrooms
RPDP Secondary Literacy
RPDP Secondary Literacy
RPDP Secondary Literacy
RPDP Secondary Literacy
RPDP Secondary Literacy
The way we look at
written material
depends on our:
• purpose for reading
• past experience or
• prior knowledge
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Always read actively and interact with
the text.
Sometimes these interactions take
place in our head – asking questions.
Other interactions are more visible:
 Taking notes
 Having a discussion
 Using graphic organizers
RPDP Secondary Literacy
When you go somewhere, you pay
attention to signs and make sure
you’re headed in the right direction.
If you see the hot dog
stand on the corner,
you’ve gone too far.
Keep a close eye on your progress
as you read.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Let’s predict who reaches
their destination
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Stop!
Why am I reading this again?
What am I looking for?
RPDP Secondary Literacy
You read different kinds of information
all day long.
Often this information appears in:
 graphs
 charts
 timelines
 maps
 photographs
 illustrations
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Graphics are a visual way of showing
what would take many words to tell.
Examples:
A cartoon portrays a point of
quicker than an essay.
Pie charts, tables, and
diagrams show facts or
statistics that would take
pages of text to explain.
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view
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Graphics are used for at least
three purposes:
 to explain
 to persuade
 to tell stories
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Many graphics
contain words as well
as visuals.
Don’t ignore:
 the words
 colors
 symbols
 the title
 smaller details
RPDP Secondary Literacy
When you first look at a page of
words, you know where to begin:
the left corner
Graphics don’t give this structure.
Use this
easy
checklist.
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Look for these items:
• Title
• Labels
• Key or legend
• Source of information
• Captions or background
• Columns and row headings
• Scale or unit of measurement
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Look at the graphic to get an overall
impression.
Read all of the text.
Put what you see in your own words.
Think about the information.
Connect what you see with what you
already know.
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These are just a few:
• Maps
• Schedules
• Tables
• Graphs
• Charts
• Diagrams
• Calendars
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Understanding the parts of a graphic is
the key to understanding what it has to
say.
Graphics can be very
different from one another.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
You already use one type of graphic
organizer every day of your life:
the calendar
It helps us to  gather
 sort
 share information
 plan and organize
our lives
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Polar Orbit
eccentric
orbit
low Earth
orbit
Geosynchronous
orbit
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Vertical Bar Graph
Favorite Teen Fast Food
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sleeping
school
entertainment
eating
chores
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Practice Question
Which of the following reflects both
the highest and lowest percentage of
your day?
How did you do?
A. Entertainment and school
B. Eating and chores
C. Sleeping and chores
D. School and sleeping
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electron
neutron
proton
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Problem
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Solution
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PLOT LINE
Climax
Resolution
Exposition
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Venn Diagram
Can be used to make a comparison
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DVD
Sales in 2005
Teen CD
Sales
4th Qtr
3rd Qtr
Girls
North
West
Boys
2nd Qtr
1st Qtr
0
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20
40
60
Age
Smokers
NonSmokers
40
$22.56
$12.98
45
$27.15
$13.39
50
$37.18
$17.16
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Practice Question
The monthly life insurance rate for
a fifty-year old smoker is –
A. 3 times higher than a non-smoker.
B. more than double that of a nonsmoker.
C. the same amount as a non-smoker.
D. too little information to determine.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
How did you do?
How graphics are organized – or even
which type of graphic – chart, graph,
timeline is used depends on the point
being made.
With graphics:
Usually some written content
Words appear  in title or header
 also in legend and captions
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Good readers:
• ask questions
• interpret information
• draw conclusions
• challenge information
• react to what they read
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Food
July Price Change from
last month
T-Bone Steak
$5.68 / lb.
+.10
Ground Beef
$3.08 / lb.
None
Bacon
$3.68 / lb.
+.17
Frying
Chicken
$2.48/lb.
-.10
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Practice Question
What was the price of chicken in
July?
A. $2.10 per pound
B. $2.48 per pound
C. $2.58 per pound
D. $2.38 per pound
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Practice Question
What was the price of T-Bone
steak in June?
A. $5.58 per pound
B. $5.78 per pound
C. $5.68 per pound
D. $4.68 per pound
RPDP Secondary Literacy
RPDP Secondary Literacy
How have computers
and electronics changed
the ways people look at
and gather information?
Why is it important to be
able to read information
electronically?
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Technology has changed the way we
use data and information.
It’s also changed how and which
strategies we use for reading.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Very few people log on to the web
without a purpose.
They might be:
 checking an email
 shopping
 searching for music
 looking for information
RPDP Secondary Literacy
When you preview a website, look for:
 name and overall look of the site
 main menu or table of contents
 first few lines describing the site
 any images or graphics that
create a feeling for the site
 source or sponsor
 date last updated
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Reading an email is simple.
Reading a website is not.
Reading a website is NOT
like reading a book.
When you read a book,
you go in one direction:
 left to right
 beginning to end
RPDP Secondary Literacy
When you read a website, you can go
in different directions.
Its links let you choose your own path.
You can jump around.
But it’s also:
 easy to get lost and
 just wander around.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Use search engines, programs that
help you find information.
Learn their strengths and weaknesses:
 Do they have images?
 Do you type a question or a key word?
 Do you have to click on a link?
 Is the information free?
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Most addresses begin with an http., which
identities how information is exchanged
among different computers connected by
the Internet.
The last part of the address tells what type
of site it is:
• government
• educational
• commercial
• military
• etc.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
If you’re not careful, you can waste a
lot of time roaming around.
You get curious and click.
Next thing you know, you’re
off course.
Caution!
Always survey the web
page before you click!
RPDP Secondary Literacy
A common mistake of beginners is
click on the first link they see and
waste time.
Don’t click unless site has
links that look promising.
If the site has no links that
look like what you want,
DON’T CLICK!
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to
that says you won something
or an item is FREE.
Many times it’s a trap!
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RPDP Secondary Literacy
Read the main menu or table of
contents first.
Use the Home Page to navigate.
There’s a lot of information
on the Web today.
Always read critically.
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STOP!
Be careful!
Not everything you
read on the
Internet is true!
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Anyone can post a website:
 An individual
 A government agency
 An educational institution
 A company
Some websites contain bias
or inaccurate information.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
1. Preview the site; glance at a few
pages.
2. Take notes on information you want
or print and highlight key ideas.
3. Write down the URL or
website address.
4. Create a quick profile.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Evaluate Internet Sources.
To trust information on
a site, you need to
know the people
behind it are
knowledgeable.
Recent updates
suggest the site is
more likely to have
accurate & up-to-date
information.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
How to Evaluate Internet Sources
Check source or sponsor – often at
bottom of home page.
Check site’s credentials:
• Educational degrees
• Job titles
• Other training or expertise
What is its purpose?
(Helps you see point of view)
Check when last updated.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Look critically at five elements:
 Sponsor
 Most recent update
 Point of view
 Level of expertise
 Do they want you
to buy something?
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Question the accuracy if:
 Source of website not identified
 Source not well known
 Purpose is political or to sell product
 Information is old or dated
 Text contains errors:
 Grammar
 Spelling
 Typos
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Blogs are Web sites that contain online
comments, personal journals, and
links provided by their writers.
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If you like the site and want
to go back to it:
Bookmark the site under Favorites.
The name and address will be stored in
a menu list at the top of your screen.
This saves you the trouble of typing the
web address each time you visit.
RPDP Secondary Literacy
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Today we discussed –
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reading graphic information
Internet website
Search engine
Link
URL
Evaluating a website
RPDP Secondary Literacy
Copyright Notice
Permission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part
of this PowerPoint for educational, personal, noncommercial use off-line as long as the copyright
message (Copyright © 2006 by Jill Leone) is
maintained on the title page. This material may not
be sold, duplicated on other websites, incorporated
in commercial documents or products, or used for
promotional purposes.
Copyright © 2006 by Jill M. Leone
RPDP Secondary Literacy